Nigerian Firm Begins Oil Drilling in Iraq

A Nigerian firm, Afren, said it had commenced oil exploration at the East Simrit prospect (Simrit-3 well), located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Imomoh said that Afren recently completed the drilling of Simrit-2 exploration well, which was ultimately drilled to a total measured depth of 3,800 metres and encountered 460 metres of net oil pay throughout Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic age reservoirs.

The company however said that no oil water contact had been established in the target reservoirs, noting that following the conclusion of drilling operations in June, a comprehensive well test programme had started and was ongoing.

It said, “The partners intend to undertake up to 12 separate drill stem tests in total, and announced in July 2012 that the first batch of three DSTs in the Triassic age Kurra Chine formation had yielded an aggregate flow rate of 13,584 bopd of 39° API gravity oil.

“The Simrit-3 exploration well is seeking to demonstrate the presence of oil within the same Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic reservoir intervals at the eastern extent of the Simrit anticline.” It will be recalled that Afren has 20 per cent interest in the Ain Sifni PSC and is partnered by Hunt Oil Middle East (60 per cent) and the Kurdistan regional government 20 per cent.

Imomoh said, “The drilling and test results recorded till date, have already confirmed Ain Sifni in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to be a world-class asset.